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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Brewvet Ride 8: Boulevard Radler

Time to finish out this year’s Brewvet. For today’s ride I started
with a circuitous meander to the local Second Street Market—fresh summer produce
is just starting to appear!—followed by a quick lunch, them a short jaunt up to
the grocery store for a new six pack just for the occasion. I like treating myself
right, after all, and nothing says indulgent like choosing a fresh new summer
beer. Since I’ve run through most of the session IPAs on the market, I figured
it was time for something new. And there it was: Boulevard’s Ginger Lemon
Radler. Boulevard makes good beer, and it was hot as bejeezus outside, so I grabbed
it and headed for home. Along with some cheese for dinner, might I add.

I managed to outrace the looming thunderstorm on the way home, ducking
onto the porch as the first drops started to fall. Once inside, it was time to
try the beer. Apparently, I’ve bad-mouthed Radlers in the past—no so much this
specific one, but Radlers in general—as I got called out almost instantly on
Instagram when I initially posted my Brewvet picture. Oh well. Like Mayor
Quimby, I am officially flip-flopping. Because this beer was delicious.
Boulevard describes the Ginger-Lemon Radler as a “zesty, refreshing take on the
tradition of mixing beer with soda or lemonade to create a light,
thirst-quenching beverage ideal for warm weather. Radler (literally ‘cyclist’)
takes its name from active German sportsmen of a hundred years ago.” There was
one more sentence they included, but it was annoying, so I deleted it. As to
how the beer tastes, it is sweet and slightly lemony with a dry ginger bite
that runs into the finish, all supported by a soft, delicate, pillowy malt
body. And some bright carbonation. Quite a nice way to finish out this bike
ride, and this Brewvet. Oh, and I covered 13.2 miles all told on today’s ride.
Cheers!